Violation: Israeli confiscates Palestinian lands to build 2500 new illegal residential units.

Location: Khallet An-Nahleh / Bethlehem governorate.

Date: 31/12/2018.

Perpetrators: settlers of Efrat and the Israeli government.

Victims: People of Wad Rahhal , Irtas and Bethlehem.

Description:

The Israeli occupation revealed a new scheme to build 2500 residential unit in Khallet An-Nahla land; the new outpost will be named “Givat Eitam” and will be annexed to “Efrat”.

In case the plan was implemented it will devour hundred of dunums from Bethlehem which will halt natural demographic expansion of Bethlehem and Irtas from the south, Khallet Al-Louzeh, Abu Njaim and Al-Baida from the northern and western sides, The new illegal outpost will devour 1800 dunums, of which 300 the occupation claims that they belong to the Jewish National Fund – see the attached map-.

It is noteworthy that the occupation’s authorities confiscated the targeted lands claiming that they are an “Israeli state’s properties”, the Palestinian original owners filed several objections to the Israeli supreme court, but the occupation’s court refused to give them a just trial, On the other hand, the properties were leaked to illegal settlers.

Noteworthy, as the occupation’s government announced earlier the lands were intended to use for public affairs not for illegal colonial expansion.

Lawyer Alaa Hajala from Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission told LRC reporter:

“In 12/26/2018, the Guardian of absentees properties announced that 1082 dunums of the lands that were confiscated from Palestinians under claims that their owners are absent will now be used for Israeli illegal colonial expansion, However they were hindered by the fact that several Palestinians possess legal documents prove that they own the land. However, at this moment it is important if anyone possesses legal documents to show them up on the face of the cruel occupation”  

Few years ago, fanatic settlers placed a farm on Palestinian lands of Khallet An-Nahleh and opened a road connecting the farm to “Efrat” settlement. However, in 2013 the road was closed after a resolution from the Israeli court , the settlers reopened it in 2014 and it is open umtil the day of writing this report.

The Israeli occupation intends to take over vast areas of Palestinian lands in order to expand their settlements and connect them to each other. The Israeli Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked told Haaretz “Annexing C area to Israel seems like a fairy tale at the moment, but it will become a reality in the future, the process only needs time”.

Israeli violates International laws and agreements and Charter of the United Nations by constructing settlements in the West Bank , and most recently The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 which was adopted on 23 December 2016 “The resolution states that Israel's settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law and has "no legal validity". It demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.”

Noteworthy, the Israeli government announced that random colonial outposts and neighborhoods will be given legal status and receive full fund from the government for infrastructural development like water and electricity supply.

In conclusion, our only hope is to fight legally by showing legal documents prove that the lands are Palestinian father to son.

Land Research Center sees Israel continuous expansion on colonies in the West Bank and Jerusalem at the expense of Palestinian and lands a flagrant violation of Human Rights and all international laws and conventions, which prohibit disposition of public properties in occupied countries.

UN Resolutions

UN Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967: calls for

• the Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;
• Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." [4]

UN Security Council Resolution 449 of 1979: the Security Council determined:

• "that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East"

UN Security Council Resolution 452 of 1979: states that

• "the policy of Israel in establishing settlements in the occupied Arab territories has no legal validity and constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949" and "calls upon the Government and people of Israel to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem."

UN Security Council Resolution 465 of 1980:

• It expressed concern at Israeli settlement policy in the Arab territories and recalled resolutions 237 (1967), 252 (1968), 267 (1969), 271(1969) and 298 (1971). It further called upon the State and people of Israel to dismantle such settlements. The resolution calls on all states ‘not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the occupied territories

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